I have accepted that our current political administration is a fully paid-up member of what I call the "Cult of Development." Also, "infrastructure" is a must, according to recent comments in a PR video by Prime Minister Andrew Holness' office; it showed highways and buildings under construction as examples. I always thought these two words - infrastructure and development - meant just a little more than simply concrete. Perhaps I am wrong. Anyway, we are told it's good for us.
I heard a report earlier this week on local radio, regarding the side-effects of the extensive repairs being made to the poorly built Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project - which was officially opened in March of this year. Five months later, it transpired, parts of the glorious highway across the eastern part of the island were in need of repair. The contractors, the ubiquitous China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) have taken full responsibility for this embarrassing state of affairs, as they should, and it is being fixed. Sections of the roadway at Roselle were also damaged by Hurricane Beryl recently; that stretch of road is a few feet from a rather rough area of open sea, so I don't know what was expected really. Interestingly, though, the failures in highway construction seem to have been attributed to the environment itself (swamp and a high water table, according to the Prime Minister).
Fixing it back: CHEC workers removing defective building material from the South Coast highway to be replaced by better quality material. (Photo: Ian Allen/Jamaica Gleaner)
I thought the Prime Minister had learned enough about "resilience" (a new, favourite buzzword) to understand that climate change brings storm surges and sea level rise, and that no sea wall, however tall and strong it may be, is going to keep out a storm for very long.
Be that as it may, it seems that the building of the highway has caused some collateral damage (apart from the expected deforestation). The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has served notice on CHEC for the dust nuisance caused by the repairs, following numerous complaints by motorists and residents. Moreover, a cease and desist order has been issued to CHEC for illegal dumping in the Port Morant mangroves and a section of the Yallahs Pond (a beautiful area, where we went birding a few years ago). The company has been observed dumping waste material there.
Well, I hope that the required dampening of the road to reduce dust is now taking place four times daily; and I hope that CHEC has stopped its dumping activities. I hope also that the lumps of concrete etc have been removed from these precious wetland areas. Other builders' trucks and probably passing motorists, will no doubt add to these dumps, over time; this is what happens - they grow. One more wish from me: that obedience to NEPA's orders will be monitored, and enforcement action taken if need be. And that companies like CHEC and others (including individuals and small businesses) will stop dumping. It's harmful to our health.
However, we should be aware that the dumping of building material, in places that are sometimes off the beaten track and sometimes in plain sight, has been ongoing for years - including during the construction of the South Coast Highway. The contractors are simply too lazy to take the materials to the nearest official dump - it's too much bother and costs them time and money. So, they find a nice little spot and create an "unofficial" dump; mangroves are a favourite dumping ground, out of sight.
On birdwatching and hiking trips, Jamaicans' explorations are often spoiled by the discovery of "informal dumps" in lovely areas of forest or wetland. These dumps might consist of plain trash like the inevitable plastic bottles, some old tyres, an old fridge or two - and construction trash.
It's disheartening to see trash strewn in lovely green places like this, which BirdLife Jamaica's Paula-Anne Porter Jones encountered on a recent hiking trip - her photo on Twitter.
The photographs below show dumping at Bull Bay, on the outskirts of St. Thomas, which is turning into a trash heap right along the road. Although it was reported in local media, the Mayor paid a visit, and the CEO of the Jamaica Environment Trust wrote to the "powers that be" - the problem persists.
I am not sure what the answer is. There are environmental laws. This is an illegal practice. And yet, it seems few are prosecuted. I wish that would change. Meanwhile, I believe that the much-touted development our country is enjoying can be done without desecrating our struggling environment. We don't want to turn into a trash-infested concrete haven, do we?
Eventually, the trash will start to spoil the views on our beautiful island. Or, worse still, become "part of the landscape," unnoticed and unattended.
Trash dumped along the highway in St. Thomas
Trash by the seaside.
The beautiful green mountains of St. Thomas in the background - and in the foreground... more trash.
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